System for managing business processes by means of a computer system
A system is described for managing business processes by means of a computer system. These processes have a number of consecutive process phases, wherein one or more of these processes can be started and accessed through a plurality of input channels. A process management module can be started upon receipt of a request for a predetermined business process from each input channel. A process definition database comprises process definitions of the processes, each process definition describing the process phases and order of process phases to be executed to complete the process. An interface module handles communication between the input channels and the process management module, wherein the process management module comprises a control point handler, a case database for storing the status of each process managed by the system, and an entry database for storing data gathered during execution of process phases. Upon receipt of a request for a predetermined process from an input channel the control point handler is started to retrieve information on a first or next process phase of the predetermined process from the process definition database and to start the prosecution of the retrieved process phase. Data entered during prosecution of a process phase is stored in the entry database and the stored data which is to be used during execution of a retrieved process step, is retrieved from the entry database. After completion of the prosecution of each process phase the control of the process is returned to the control point handler, wherein after return of the control of the process, the control point handler updates the status of the respective process in the case database. A next process phase of the same process is retrieved from the process definition database and prosecution thereof is started by the control point handler if a continuation request is received from the input channel. The control point handler returns control to the interface module if a stop request is received from the input channel.
The present patent application claims the priority benefit of the filing date of European Application (EPO) No. 04102789.7.3 filed Jun. 17, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the invention relates to a system for managing business processes by means of a computer system, said processes having a number of consecutive process phases, wherein one or more of said processes can be started and accessed through a plurality of input channels.
Systems for managing business processes by means of a computer system are known. WO-A-0223877 discloses for example an integrated work management engine for customer care in a communication system, which accepts work through multiple access channels. With an increasing range of services offered to customers there exists a need for an efficient system for managing processes supporting such services allowing access to a selected process via different channels throughout the process at the choice of the customer. It is a disadvantage of existing systems of this type, such as workflow systems, that it is not possible to interrupt a process started by a customer through a first input channel and to resume the process at a time chosen by the customer through a different channel chosen by the customer. Moreover, prior art systems based on a push mechanism can not handle processes including external process phases, such as process phases depending on actions of the customers involved.
An embodiment of the invention aims to provide a system of the above-mentioned type wherein the disadvantages of the prior art systems are overcome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention a system for managing a number of business processes comprises a process management module which can be started upon receipt of a request for a predetermined business process from each input channel, a process definition database comprising process definitions of each of said number of processes, each process definition describing the process phases and order of process phases to be executed to complete the process, and an interface module handling communication between the input channels and the process management module, wherein the process management module comprises a control point handler, a case database for storing the status of each process managed by the system, and an entry database for storing data gathered during execution of the process, wherein upon receipt of a request for a predetermined process from an input channel the control point handler is started to retrieve information on a first or next process phase of said predetermined process from the process definition database and to start the prosecution of the retrieved process phase, wherein data entered during prosecution of a process phase is stored in the entry database and data stored in the entry database which is to be used during execution of a retrieved process step, is retrieved from the entry database, wherein after completion of the prosecution of each process phase the control of the process is returned to the control point handler, wherein after return of the control of the process, the control point handler updates the status of the respective process in the case database, wherein information on a next process phase of the same process is retrieved from the process definition database and prosecution thereof is started by the control point handler if a continuation request is received from the input channel, and wherein the control point handler returns control to the interface module if a stop request is received from the input channel.
In this manner a system for managing business processes is obtained, wherein the process management module, in particular the control point handler, allows customers to access, stop and resume any business process via an input channel at the choice of the customer. The process can be stopped after each process phase by the customer and it is the customer who decides at which moment he wishes to resume the process to continue with a next process phase. After completion of each process phase, the system allows the customer to decide to wait with the continuation of the process. As the status of each process is stored in the case database and all data gathered during execution of process phases is stored in the entry database all information needed to continue with a next process phase is centrally available in the process management module so that the customer may choose any input channel to continue with a next process phase.
New business processes can easily be added to the system by storing the process definition in the process definition database.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will be further described by reference to the drawings in which an embodiment of the system of the invention is shown in a very schematical way.
A central part of the system described is a process management module 4 which comprises a control point handler 5, a case database 6 and an entry database 7. In the case database 6 the status of each process managed by the system is stored and in the entry database 7 data gathered during execution of process phases is stored. This means that all information needed to continue with a next process phase is centrally available in the process management module 4. By way of example
The system described further comprises a process definition database 17 comprising the process definitions of the business processes which can be managed by the system. Each process definition comprises information with respect to the business process, such as information with respect to the process phases and the order in which the process phases are to be executed to complete the business process.
The operation of the system and further details of the system will be described by reference to
It is noted that through the session service 15, the process management module 4 receives information on the input channel 8, in this case input channel 10, through which the process has been accessed. This information includes information regarding the language used by the input channel, the location of the input channel computer, the platform on which the computer operates, etc. This information is used by the process management module 4 to start the correct implementation of the first process phase A. Moreover, this allows the process management module 4 to take care that any dialogues in the first process phase A are presented on the current input channel 10.
After completion of the first process phase A, the control of the process “sell a nonstandard credit” is returned to the control point handler 5 which updates the status of this particular process in the case database 6. Any relevant information that is entered by the call centre agent is stored in the entry database 7 during prosecution of process phase A. The status of this particular process becomes “process phase A is completed”. Assuming that at the end of the first process phase A, the customer and the call centre agent agree to continue the process, the call centre agent clicks on the option “OK and continue” presented in the last screen of process phase A. This last screen also provides the option “OK and stop” as will be explained hereinafter. In case the option “OK and continue” is chosen, the control is returned from the process phase A to the control point handler 5 as shown by arrow 19 in
With this information the next process phase B is started as indicated by the arrow 20 in
In the example shown in
The business process “sell a non-standard credit” is an example of a process which includes a process phase in which internal specialists have to work on the product. During process phase C, the bank shop agent gathers all information from the customer which is needed in the next process phase D to allow the internal specialist to create a proposal for the non-standard credit. Therefore, at the end of process phase C, the next process phase D has to be assigned to a specialist or specialist department. This is schematically indicated in
The employee that finds the case in his inbox 23 clicks on the case resulting in his computer becoming input channel 12 of the system through which the business process start service 14 starts the control point handler 5 to continue with the process. The control point handler 5 checks the status of the process in the case database 6 and finds out that the status is “process phase C completed”. Thereafter, the control point handler 5 calls the process definition database to obtain information on the next process phase D and starts process phase D as indicated by arrow 24 in
As schematically shown in
In the example described the customer chooses to sign the offer for a non-standard credit through the Internet. Using his PC or another suitable terminal adapted to communicate through the Internet, he logs on on the website of the bank operating the described system. By logging on, his PC becomes one of the input channels 8 connected to the system through the Internet channel 9. By clicking on his screen on his personal page, the interface module 13, in particular the business process starts service 14 is called and starts the control point handler 5. As in the previous process phases A-D, the control point handler 5 checks the status of the case in the case database 6 and retrieves from the process definition database 17 the required information on the next process phase E. The control point handler 5 starts up the next process phase E as indicated by the arrow 27 in
As shown in
As shown in
The process monitor module 32 monitors the action taken on the notification sent to the inbox 33. If no action is taken within a predetermined time, the process monitor module 32 will send an alarm message to an inbox not shown of the department manager.
As explained above, process phases can be performed automatically, manually, partly manually, or a process phase can even be a complicated workflow. In any case, all functions and data that are used in a process phase and that are the same for more than one process phase and/or for more than one input channel 8 can be defined and implemented generically. This is schematically shown in
As explained above, when a process phase A-E is completed, the control of the system is returned to the control point handler 5. Each time the control is returned after completion of a process phase, the control point handler 5 updates the status of the process in the case database 6. Further, the control point handler also sends process information to a management information system 36.
From the above description it will be understood that according to the invention the system for managing a number of business processes is arranged in such a manner that the customer has control over the time and input channel through which a process is started, stopped and resumed. To this end the control point handler 5 operates according to a pull mechanism, wherein the customer indicates his wish to start a first or next process phase of a desired business process. The control point handler 5 is operable to start the correct process phase A-E by calling the process definition database 17 and starting the correct process phase. After completion of each process phase A-E control of the process is returned to the control point handler 5 and only if the customer indicates his wish to continue the process, the control point handler 5 starts the next process phase. If the customer wants to wait with continuation of a process, he can do so. He can continue the pending process, i.e. resume the process, through any channel he desires to use. As the status and all relevant data are centrally available in the case database 6 and the entry database 7, the control point handler 5 can start the next process phase with all available information ready for use in the next process phase.
The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. System for managing business processes by means of a computer system, said processes having a number of consecutive process phases, wherein one or more of said processes can be started and accessed through a plurality of input channels, said system comprising a process management module which can be started upon receipt of a request for a predetermined business process from each input channel, a process definition database comprising process definitions of each of said number of processes, each process definition describing the process phases and order of process phases to be executed to complete the process, and an interface module handling communication between the input channels and the process management module, wherein the process management module comprises a control point handler, a case database for storing the status of each process managed by the system, and an entry database for storing data gathered during execution of the process, wherein upon receipt of a request for a predetermined process from an input channel the control point handler is started to retrieve information on a first or next process phase of said predetermined process from the process definition database and to start the prosecution of the retrieved process phase, wherein data entered during prosecution of a process phase is stored in the entry database and data stored in the entry database which is to be used during execution of a retrieved process step, is retrieved from the entry database, wherein after completion of the prosecution of each process phase the control of the process is returned to the control point handler, wherein after return of the control of the process, the control point handler updates the status of the respective process in the case database, wherein information on a next process phase of the same process is retrieved from the process definition database and prosecution thereof is started by the control point handler if a continuation request is received from the input channel, and wherein the control point handler returns control to the interface module if a stop request is received from the input channel.
2. System according to claim 1, wherein a process phase is completed by an OK command including either the continuation request or the stop request, wherein the OK command returns the control of the process to the control point handler, wherein the continuation request instructs the control point handler to start the next process phase of the process and the stop request instructs the control point handler to return control to the interface module.
3. System according to claim 2, comprising a client view function operable to provide customer information including information on open cases, wherein an open case can be started in the client view function through the interface module.
4. System according to claim 1, wherein one or more process phases includes forwarding a message presenting the process to an inbox of a person to be involved in the process, wherein the process can be started from the inbox message through the interface module, wherein starting the process starts the control point handler to check the status of the process by means of the case database and to retrieve the next process phase from the process definition database in order to start the next process phase using the computer of said person as input channel, wherein after completion of said next process phase control is returned to the control point handler to update the status of the process in the case database, whereafter the control point handler returns control to the interface module.
5. System according to claim 4, wherein said one or more process phases comprises a workflow process.
6. System according to claim 1, wherein after completion of the last process phase of a process the control point handler starts a broker interface to log the information stored in the entry database in a central administration system.
7. System according to claim 6, comprising a business process end service module, wherein after logging the information in the central administration, the control point handler starts the business process end service module.
8. System according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises a session service for storing session information on the input channel through which a request for a process phase is received, wherein the session information is used by the control point handler to retrieve a requested process phase from the process definition database in an implementation which is suitable for use on the input channel through which the process is accessed.
9. System according to claim 1, wherein a process monitor module is provided for checking the status of open cases in the case database by means of a time input, wherein the process monitor module sends a notification to an inbox of a person indicating that the process phase is overdue.
10. System according to claim 9, wherein the process definition database comprises information on the time a process phase may take, which information is used as time input by the process monitor.
11. System according to claim 9, wherein the customer can set a time input the process phase may take.
12. System according to claim 9, wherein the process monitor module monitors the action taken on the notification sent, wherein an alarm message is sent to a further inbox if no action is taken within a predetermined time.
13. System according to claim 1, comprising a service module operable to provide process functions and data, which service module can be called by a process phase to deliver a process function and/or data.
14. System according to claim 1, wherein the control point handler is operable to send process information to a management information system when control of the process is returned after completion of a process phase.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 9, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7774222
Inventors: Anthonie Hardeman (Almere), Lorenzo Van der Wolf (Purmerend), Johannes Miedema (Apeldoorn), Erik Ruijter (Amsterdam), Marcellinus Molenaar (Ijmuiden), Cornelis Dusink (Diemen), Wouter Schmitz (Amsterdam)
Application Number: 10/938,223
International Classification: G06Q 90/00 (20060101);